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Chris Algieri - A thinking man's boxer tackling one of the sport's greats

Chris Algieri is one boxer who’s always right on the money.

When the 30-year-old New York native steps into the ring in Macau, China, on November 22 to face legend Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title, he will arrive as the underdog. After all, who hasn’t been up against it from the moment they’ve locked eyes with the 35-year-old Filipino hall of famer.

Yet you only have to scratch the surface to delve into the psyche of the former world kickboxing champion and quickly realise that Algieri is anything but a plucky contender building up for the biggest pay day of his life.

He is a rarity – the thinking man’s fighter.

A boxer who is clever with his fists yet the sweet science extends to his life outside the ring. He already has a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from the New York Institute of Technology and plans to return to medical school once his fighting career is over.

While US sports fans are still struggling to digest the horrors of Ray Rice’s shocking assault on his now wife, Algieri’s attitude and intelligence could provide a blueprint for those, especially in the NFL, who simply have too much, too young.

When the American, somewhat controversially, stunned the highly-rated Ruslan Provodnikov – the Freddie Roach-coached Russian was deemed to have lost on points despite Algieri twice going to the canvas early on – to win the WBO junior welterweight title in June this year and set up his glamour shot at Pacquiao, he had quickly hit the fast track to stardom.

The money banked, however, wasn’t blown on fast cars or even faster women. The $1.5 million dollar purse for the Pacquiao fight won’t be wasted either.

“My first big pay packet came from my last fight and I used a part of it to pay off my school fees,” said Algieri, as he sat down with Sport360° before conducting an interview for Fox Business Network in Manhattan, the TV channel keen to get his views on financial well-being.

“And from the money I’ll get from this one I am trying to set up my life after boxing. Pension plans, payment plans and such like. I am just trying to look after myself. I want to be sensible with the money which comes in."

His promoter Joe DeGuardia, a former New York fighter who combined time in the ring with time in a law school classroom to ensure the boxing scrapheap was left for others to wallow in, has certainly helped fine-tune his mindset.

Algieri, who will arrive in China with a 20-0 record including eight knock-outs since turning pro in 2008, is being guided down the correct path, one which DeGuardia navigated successfully and helped establish him as a lawyer as well as boxing fixer.

“It seems like most other guys get themselves into trouble financially,“ he added.

“They encounter problems with taxes, and people have to realise there is a life after boxing. I am hoping to go back to school when I am finished and have money that will be set aside which will help me with my education.”

To be matched with someone of Pacquiao’s status has come quickly but the American wasn’t prepared to trawl through the backwaters in search of fame.

Seeing Magomed Abdusalamov suffer serious brain trauma last year during a fight with Mike Perez convinced Algieri it was boom or bust. He was 18-0 at the time, yet his progress wasn’t being reflected monetarily.

Considering his biggest paycheck as one of the world’s best kick boxers was just $3,000, it’s no wonder he’s putting his neck firmly on the line against one of the all-time greats.

A naturally gifted athlete who excelled at martial arts – he was a black belt at 15 – Algieri was combining his sporting life with a healthcare science degree before completing a masters which has enabled him to use his knowledge to help others, and himself.

Algieri isn’t stopping there though. More studies and diplomas are on the cards.

A future is clearly mapped out.

Moving out from his parents’ house is also part of the plan.

Huge interest abounds too. When we met, he was at the end of a grueling 12-day, 27,273-mile international media tour which spanned Macau, Shanghai, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York City.

“I always liked studying and did well at school. People would ask my grandmother if I was going to be a fighter and she would always say ‘no, he’s too good at school’,” he added with a smile.

“All the way during my studies though I was fighting. I was a professional kickboxer, then boxing while doing my undergraduate. It was always on my mind though.

“I had two minds – school and fighting. It was hard to have them overlap and attempt to compartmentalise the two. My time management skills certainly helped. A lot of preparations for classes like physiology and physics are really tough so it was in many ways like preparing for a fight. But I graduated with honours – I have always loved testing myself both physically and mentally, so it was an enjoyable time of my life.

“I am using all that stuff now. Before the Provodnikov fight I was working as a nutritionist, helping people who were overweight, who needed help with blood pressure etc.

“I worked with athletes mainly, a few fighters, baseball players. But after boxing whether I go to medical school or get a doctorate degree, my experiences as a world-class athlete coupled with my educational background will definitely help with that.

“People may go other routes but I want to finish my education. I’ve spent a lot of money on it.”

So why can’t the likes of Rice and the unfortunately ever-increasing number of miscreants who are darkening America’s sporting landscape follow Algieri’s lead?

“I can understand why a lot of sportsmen have been getting into trouble. I have been careful with my money because I am 30 not 20,” he countered.

“They are really young, they have millions of dollars with people waiting on them hand and foot. Even though they go to college, they don’t push themselves academically. They are just pushed along, not having to work hard for their schooling.

“They don’t pay for it. I paid for everything. I have had bills and paid them so I understand money better than these guys do. I have been in debt and I know that I don’t want to be there again. You have to be careful who is around you too, when the attention really starts to heat up. I make sure I keep my circle very small.

“People are always trying to hang around. Even when I am setting up my pension plan, it’s hard to do. I am lucky that I have good people around me who have shown me what to do but I can definitely see how guys get in trouble with taxes and stuff like that.”

For Paquiao, the end of a glittering career is fast approaching.

He is, and will always be, one of the greats, his speed and punching prowess which have left so many floored remain undiminished yet as the build-up cranks up a notch, observers are already questioning the Filipino’s choice of opponent.

At 5ft 10ins, Algieri’s height could cause problems while he is considerably fresher. Either way, he is not fazed.

“I am a very confident person, especially in the boxing ring where I can use my skills,” he said. “I am going to just be myself. People are asking me ‘ what is your gameplan?’.

“I am just going to try and set the tone, keep the pace fast and find a way to win. I have always found a way to win.”


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